Huberman Lab

Dr. Robert Malenka: How Your Brain’s Reward Circuits Drive Your Choices

Jul 10, 2023

In this discussion, Dr. Robert Malenka, a leading neurobiologist at Stanford, unpacks how our brain's reward systems drive choices. He dives into the roles of dopamine and serotonin in behavior, motivation, and social connections. Malenka elucidates the impact of neuroplasticity on addiction and how context can hijack reward systems. He also explores empathy's biological roots and the potential therapeutic effects of substances like MDMA on social behavior and autism, shedding light on the fascinating interplay between neuroscience and our daily choices.

02:47:29

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Episode guests

Robert Malenka

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Quick takeaways

Different addictive substances impact the dopamine reward circuitry in distinct ways, leading to varying subjective experiences.

Individual susceptibility to addiction is influenced by genetic factors, environmental factors, and available rewards.

Addiction treatment focuses on shifting the focus from wanting the addictive substance towards finding reward in healthy alternatives.

Autism spectrum disorder may be associated with altered reward processing and deficits in social reward.

Neuromodulatory systems, particularly serotonin, may hold promise for enhancing empathy and social behaviors.

Deep dives

The Influence of Dopamine in Addiction

Different drugs, such as cocaine, opioids, and methamphetamine, impact the dopamine reward circuitry in the brain, leading to addictive behaviors. Cocaine and methamphetamine directly affect the release and reuptake of dopamine, causing a rapid and powerful surge in the brain's reward circuitry. Opioids primarily act on the dopamine neurons themselves, triggering an increased release of dopamine. The addictive properties of these substances are influenced by the amount of dopamine released as well as the kinetics of release. The subjective experiences and effects of these substances can vary widely, with opioids offering a more sedative experience and psychostimulants inducing increased arousal and stimulation. The development of addiction depends on a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and individual susceptibility.

Reinforcing v rewarding

01:43

The Power and Complexity of Addiction: Genetics, Environment, and Reward Circuitry

00:52

Different degrees of addictive liability in drugs

01:54

The Evolutionary Purpose of Reward Circuitry

01:48

Intro

4min

Exploring the Role of Dopamine in Human Behavior

3min

The Dopamine Dilemma: Rewards, Choices, and Addiction

29min

The Neuroscience of Addiction

8min

The Dopamine Paradox: Addiction and Recovery

16min

Neuroscience of Drugs and Hydration

6min

Building Confidence in Science and Autism Perspectives

13min

The Neurobiology of Social Behavior

16min

The Neurology of Social Behavior and Connection

17min

10.

Empathy and Neuroscience

22min

11.

MDMA's Neurochemical Journey

13min

12.

Unpacking MDMA: Clinical Insights and Autism Research

7min

13.

Serotonin, Psychedelics, and Social Interaction

14min

14.

Exploring Neuroplasticity and the Brain's Reward Systems

2min

In this episode, my guest is Robert Malenka, MD, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine who has made numerous seminal discoveries of how the brain changes (neuroplasticity) in response to learning and in response to rewarding and reinforcing experiences. We discuss the brain’s several reward systems involving dopamine and serotonin and how these motivate us to seek out specific behaviors and substances. We discuss how these reward systems are modified based on context and our memories, and how they can be hijacked toward maladaptive drug seeking in addiction. We also explore how reward systems influence social connections, oxytocin and empathy and how that applies to our understanding of autism spectrum disorders. This episode should be of interest to those interested in neuroplasticity, social bonding, addiction, autism, learning and motivation.

For show notes, including referenced articles and additional resources, please visit hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Dr. Robert Malenka

(00:02:53) Sponsors: LMNT & Waking Up

(00:05:21) Dopamine & Reward Circuitry

(00:11:31) Reward, Arousal, Memory & Dopamine

(00:17:34) Context, Cues & Dopamine Modification

(00:25:38) Memory & Reward Scaling

(00:30:50) Dopamine, “Addictive Liability” & Route of Administration

(00:39:25) Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)

(00:40:40) Drugs of Abuse & Brain Changes; Addiction & Individual Variability

(00:50:51) Reinforcement vs. Reward, Wanting vs. Liking

(00:57:500 Opioids, Psychostimulants & Dopamine

(01:04:51) Self-Doubt, Confidence & Career

(01:12:40) Autism Spectrum Disorder

(01:19:29) Pro-Social Interaction & Reward; Oxytocin, Serotonin & Dopamine

(01:30:30) Nucleus Accumbens & Behavior Probability

(01:38:28) Reward for Pro-Social Behavior

(01:43:13) Social Media & “Addictive Liability”; Gambling

(01:52:17) Pain, Social Behavior & Empathy

(02:02:19) Empathy Circuitry, Dopamine & Serotonin

(02:10:07) Autism Spectrum Disorder & Social Interactions, Empathy

(02:17:23) MDMA, Serotonin & Dopamine; Addiction & Pro-Social Effects

(02:28:13) Autism Spectrum Disorder, Social Behavior, MDMA & Pharmacology

(02:37:18) Serotonin, MDMA & Psychedelics

(02:40:16) Psychedelics: Research & Therapeutic Potential

(02:47:57) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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Huberman Lab

Dr. Robert Malenka: How Your Brain’s Reward Circuits Drive Your Choices

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Influence of Dopamine in Addiction

Neuroplasticity and Addiction

Variations in Addictive Experiences

Distinguishing Between Wanting and Liking

Empathy and Reward Circuitry in Autism

Investigating Empathy and Social Behaviors in Mice

Understanding Empathy and its Evolutionary Significance

Role of Neuromodulators in Empathy and Reward Processing

The Potential Therapeutic Uses of Oxytocin in Autism

Understanding the Effects of MDMA on the Brain

Reinforcing v rewarding

The Power and Complexity of Addiction: Genetics, Environment, and Reward Circuitry

Different degrees of addictive liability in drugs

The Evolutionary Purpose of Reward Circuitry

Thank you to our sponsors

Timestamps

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts